Federal Reserve Throws Up White Flag, Surrenders Authority

Stocks ended mixed after the Federal Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve issued the following statement at 2:15 pm EDT. I have decided to republish the entire release, interspersed with my notes in italics. It is also quite noteworthy that this is by far the most terse statement the Fed has released in many years. My feelings, essentially, are, that since they have little to do to stem the continuation of dour economic conditions within an essentially deflationary environment, they have little to say. For that, they deserve some small credit. For the rest, they deserve what currency manipulators always earn: ire and scorn.

Release Date: June 23, 2010

For immediate release

Information received since the Federal Open Market Committee met in April suggests that the economic recovery is proceeding and that the labor market is improving gradually.

This opening statement is an absolute lie. If anybody should know a thing or two about economic conditions and the labor market, it would be the Fed. Even as a casual observer, it is quite easy to refute the foregoing statement. Labor conditions continue to worsen and the economy is embarking upon another retraction.

Household spending is increasing but remains constrained by high unemployment, modest income growth, lower housing wealth, and tight credit.

I won't even bother to check. Maybe "official" government statistics show household spending increasing, but anyone who's worked for a living in the private sector knows that wages have been stagnant for at least the last 20 years. Any excess spending is likely coming from people who are not paying their mortgage or from government subsidies. So, the statement may be true, but look at their qualifiers, then, add mine.

Business spending on equipment and software has risen significantly; however, investment in nonresidential structures continues to be weak and employers remain reluctant to add to payrolls.

Business spending on infrastructure is probably increasing, but most businesses are also hoarding cash. The telling statement is "investment in nonresidential structures continues to be weak." Commercial real estate is in free-fall. Note that they mention unemployment again as an impediment to growth.

Housing starts remain at a depressed level.

Obviously.

Financial conditions have become less supportive of economic growth on balance, largely reflecting developments abroad.

Read the first part of the sentence. The second part desires to shift blame to Europe. It's BS. We have enough of our own problems. Europe's only make them worse.

Bank lending has continued to contract in recent months.

Actually, I am somewhat surprised they would say this, as bank lending has been depressed since 2008.

Nonetheless, the Committee anticipates a gradual return to higher levels of resource utilization in a context of price stability, although the pace of economic recovery is likely to be moderate for a time.

This statement is just a wish. There is no evidence that the economy will grow substantially in the near term. Watch what happens to the term, "resource utilization" in the remainder of the statement. Also, make note of their mention of price stability and inflation, never using the term, "deflation." The "D-word" scares them to death, because they, and all other Keynesian economists have no answers for the bottomless pit of deflation.

Prices of energy and other commodities have declined somewhat in recent months, and underlying inflation has trended lower.

Deflation.

With substantial resource slack continuing to restrain cost pressures and longer-term inflation expectations stable, inflation is likely to be subdued for some time.

Deflation.

The Committee will maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 0 to 1/4 percent and continues to anticipate that economic conditions, including low rates of resource utilization, subdued inflation trends, and stable inflation expectations, are likely to warrant exceptionally low levels of the federal funds rate for an extended period.

In other words, they've thrown up the white flag of surrender here. They admit that they have no solutions except to keep lending money at ZERO percent. THEY cannot make money. They have failed. The US economy, from which, over the past nearly 100 years, the Federal Reserve has stolen almost all wealth from the nation, is bankrupt. There needs to be no more evidence than this statement to make the case that the Federal Reserve should be dissolved. Their policies, over the course of the past 96 years, has destroyed the capacity for the US economy to produce and grow. Ben Bernanke should step down and the governors of the Fed should declare bankruptcy and turn their assets over to the United States government for proper disposal.

Make particular note that they mention "low rates of resource utilization" when in the previous paragraph they said, "the Committee anticipates a gradual return to higher levels of resource utilization..." They are wishing. They are clueless. They have nothing. "Gradual" could mean six months just as easily as six years.

The Committee will continue to monitor the economic outlook and financial developments and will employ its policy tools as necessary to promote economic recovery and price stability.

They have no more policy tools to employ. They have no more gimmicks to steal more money from the Treasury. They have nothing. They are worthless and defunct. Ordinary Americans have more power to promote economic prosperity - by hiring a kid to mow a lawn - than the Federal Reserve and they openly admit it.

Voting for the FOMC monetary policy action were: Ben S. Bernanke, Chairman; William C. Dudley, Vice Chairman; James Bullard; Elizabeth A. Duke; Donald L. Kohn; Sandra Pianalto; Eric S. Rosengren; Daniel K. Tarullo; and Kevin M. Warsh. Voting against the policy action was Thomas M. Hoenig, who believed that continuing to express the expectation of exceptionally low levels of the federal funds rate for an extended period was no longer warranted because it could lead to a build-up of future imbalances and increase risks to longer-run macroeconomic and financial stability, while limiting the Committee’s flexibility to begin raising rates modestly.

This final piece was probably entered upon the insistence of Mr. Hoenig, who, for whatever purpose (maybe to avoid hanging) wishes to separate himself from the lying majority. His effort to save himself should be applauded, though the addition of this statement is more than likely the most damaging blow to the unity of the Federal Reserve board of governors since its inception.

------------------------- End of FOMC Statement ---------------------------------

OK, readers can agree with my assessment in whole or in part or disagree as they please. In a nutshell, I'd say that we, as a nation, are in for a world of hurt. As I've been saying for the better part of the last three years, maybe four, our current economic path is unsustainable, and here is a stab to the heart of the US economy. The Federal Reserve today serves our nation no useful purpose except to delay the inevitable, while their cronies and friends steal as much more wealth as possible before they flee the country.

As for our friendly criminal enterprise known as Wall Street, well, they couldn't just sell everything all at once, could they? Their response was measured and cynical. They realize that the Fed has failed and that the underground economy - the part of the nation that avoids taxes, regulations and government intervention - will flourish far beyond the prospects of the "measured" economy.

Expect unreported income to far outstrip the GDP over the next 3-5 years. Expect small businesses to alternately fail and prosper, depending on how well they are able to skirt the laws and taxation. Expect a renaissance of personal responsibility and resourcefulness and the utter destruction of governance.

Greed, corruption, theft and incompetence have their consequences. This is the second phase of the post-government era, in which individuals will take matters even more into their own hands. Millionaires will mysteriously appear from the dust of destroyed cities. The stock market will crash or be held afloat by the criminals who operate under the now-discredited idea that big business is at the heart of American prosperity.

Economic and social dislocation will occur on a daily, even momentary basis, as individuals seize monetary power from the dethroned "masters of the universe" embodied in the money center banks and publicly-owned firms in general.

Today's market data is meaningful only in the internals.

Dow 10,298.44, +4.92 (0.05%)
NASDAQ 2,254.23, -7.57 (0.33%)
S&P 500 1,092.04, -3.27 (0.30%)
NYSE Composite 6,850.05, -8.90 (0.13%)

NOTABLE: declining issues led advancers, 3441-2978. NOTABLE: new lows surpassed new highs, 116-73. NOTABLE: Volume was anemic. Fear has fully gripped the trading community.

NYSE Volume 5,294,169,500
NASDAQ Volume 1,895,673,875

One would have expected gold and silver to rise off the back of the Fed announcement. Since they are serially controlled and manipulated by central banks and money center banks, they did not. Gold dipped $5.40, to $1,234.10. Silver fell 44 cents, to $18.45. These price levels will not maintain. Either there will be massive liquidation shortly, due to another financial crisis, or the dye has already been cast, that fiat money is dead and a new gold standard is about to emerge, the eventuality of which is now without doubt. It may not be advisable to buy gold or silver at these prices, but by no means should anybody be selling any until the prevailing economic conditions are resolved and the global economies are at healthy status.

Prices may decline for some time, but they will surely rise, most likely well beyond these levels. Cash or land are now useful converters into gold. If you find somebody willing to exchange equities or bonds for gold or silver, by all means take their hard assets at whatever discount comforts you. Gold and silver will endure. Paper money and certificates will not.

Oil dropped $1.50, to $76.35. Expect this price to settle at its true level of $35/barrel within the next three years. Outside of absolute manipulation, oil will not see $80/barrel for at least another 15 years.

Had enough?

I'll be back tomorrow, and the next day and many more after that. The party is just getting interesting.